10 tips for Free Press Summer Fest

Check out these tricks to maximize fun and minimize aggravation.

By By Chron.com staff

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Dress correct for the heat

You want to look fashionable at the music festival with all your buddies, but you should probably leave the hoodies and tight jeans at home. Opt for cut-off shorts and maybe a tank top and comfortable shoes. I know the rockers are probably worried about looking like jocks, but just deal with it like everyone else. Bring an extra shirt just in case Houston weather decides to be Houston weather and it pours rain for two hours. less

Dress correct for the heat

You want to look fashionable at the music festival with all your buddies, but you should probably leave the hoodies and tight jeans at home. Opt for cut-off shorts and maybe a

Dress correct for the heat
You want to look fashionable at the... Photo-4673758.63084 - Houston Chronicle

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Eat well

This will be difficult, with the amount of tempting food trucks and local fare at FPSF, but remember to save those big, gluttonous meals for when you leave the park. Eating a few pounds of nachos and gourmet hot dogs won’t make excessive heat at the park any better. Go with items with simple ingredients if possible. A piece of cheese pizza works. Maybe something with fruit involved. Tacos are a good route to go, but go easy. I know I sound like a cereal commercial, but it’s also a good idea to have a balanced breakfast. less

Eat well

This will be difficult, with the amount of tempting food trucks and local fare at FPSF, but remember to save those big, gluttonous meals for when you leave the park. Eating a few pounds of nachos

Eat well
This will be difficult, with the amount of tempting... Photo-4673760.63084 - Houston Chronicle

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Sleep!

People will start partying on Friday night to get hyped for Saturday, and that’s all good, but remember to get a tad more sleep than usual over FPSF weekend. This should take care of itself if you really do the festival right. Dancing and walking everywhere in the sun should wear you down. less

Sleep!

People will start partying on Friday night to get hyped for Saturday, and that’s all good, but remember to get a tad more sleep than usual over FPSF weekend. This should take care of itself if you

Sleep!
People will start partying on Friday night to get hyped... Photo-4673762.63084 - Houston Chronicle

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Water is your friend

I know that the alcoholic options at FPSF are tops. Anvil is coming back to serve drinks, the craft beer will be flowing ( Saint Arnold’s) and some of you will be sneaking in a flask or three. But water intake should be a priority. I know, clear fluids that don’t get you wasted are boring, but you will actually be prolonging the magic of FPSF by hydrating. less

Water is your friend

I know that the alcoholic options at FPSF are tops. Anvil is coming back to serve drinks, the craft beer will be flowing ( Saint Arnold’s) and some of you will be sneaking in a flask

Water is your friend
I know that the alcoholic options at FPSF... Photo-4673764.63084 - Houston Chronicle

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Scheduling? Ha!

I’ve been going to music festivals since I was 15 and it took me nearly a decade to realize that I shouldn’t live and die by the festival schedule. See bands that you haven’t heard of. You paid enough for the tickets, you might as well soak it all in. If you need to see the bigger headliners, get to the stage early so you aren’t the bully shoving your way into the crowd to lick Iggy Pop in front of fans who put in the effort to forsake comfort for a place on the barricade. If this is hard for you to understand, the crowd will no doubt take care of you. less

Scheduling? Ha!

I’ve been going to music festivals since I was 15 and it took me nearly a decade to realize that I shouldn’t live and die by the festival schedule. See bands that you haven’t heard of.

Make a stop at the ATM before you head to the park to get a wad of spending money. ATMs on site could also run out of green stuff, and the fees will be ridiculous. Plastic slows down the flow of life at a music festival and you’ll be more likely to make better spending choices with cash, right? I don’t know, I have always been poor during FPSF. If money is no option, can you buy me some merch? That large Geto Boys shirt. No, the one on the left. That one. less

Bring cash

Make a stop at the ATM before you head to the park to get a wad of spending money. ATMs on site could also run out of green stuff, and the fees will be ridiculous. Plastic slows down the flow of

Bring cash
Make a stop at the ATM before you head to the park... Photo-4673767.63084 - Houston Chronicle

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Merch

Speaking of merch, if you see something, be it a shirt, a poster, a tote bag, a trucker hat, a suspicious-looking pipe, anything, just get it when you see it. A thousand other people will want it too. Don’t be left out. I still regret not buying concert shirts from shows I went to years ago because I was going to wait until after the show. Wrong. less

Merch

Speaking of merch, if you see something, be it a shirt, a poster, a tote bag, a trucker hat, a suspicious-looking pipe, anything, just get it when you see it. A thousand other people will want it too.

Merch
Speaking of merch, if you see something, be it a shirt, a... Photo-4673769.63084 - Houston Chronicle

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Stay clean

Maybe I am showing my age and fanciness, but I bring disposable wipes to festivals. By the first hour of the first day, there will magically be no more paper towels or sanitizer at the Porta-Potty stations. Do yourself and your friends a favor and be clean. A large towel also helps if you sweat like Niagara Falls. Walking around with a white towel makes you look like a rapper and that can’t be a bad thing. Also, studies show that prospective romantic conquests like it when you don’t smell like a park sewer. less

Stay clean

Maybe I am showing my age and fanciness, but I bring disposable wipes to festivals. By the first hour of the first day, there will magically be no more paper towels or sanitizer at the Porta-Potty

I have already covered keeping your body clean, now how about keeping FPSF clean? Yes, the temptation to throw your pizza box on the ground after scarfing down that large supreme is heavy, but walking five feet to a trashcan isn’t that hard. Same goes with cans and bottles. Take pride in the magic of the festival and keep it pretty. less

Clean up after yourself

I have already covered keeping your body clean, now how about keeping FPSF clean? Yes, the temptation to throw your pizza box on the ground after scarfing down that large supreme is

It’s costs nothing to be courteous and cordial to your fellow Houstonians while you are in an 80K plus crowd. You could make some new friends out of the deal. If you don’t like being stuck inside excessive, sweaty, stinky, noisy crowds, learn to play guitar and sing so you can headline the next FPSF and not have to worry about anything but your complimentary deli tray. less

Finally; just be nice

It’s costs nothing to be courteous and cordial to your fellow Houstonians while you are in an 80K plus crowd. You could make some new friends out of the deal. If you don’t like